Angels: Ministering Spirits
 

The Bible states that the holy angels are "ministering spirits" sent to minister to us, the heirs of salvation:

Hebrews 1:13-14
King James Version (KJV)
13 But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool?
14 Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?

In what ways do angels "minister" to us?

The first thing I can think of is protection. In what other ways might they minister?

Also... what are your thoughts on Guardian Angels?

This is just something I dont' hear much about and enjoy discussing.

God bless,

Chris

Re: Angels: Ministering Spirits
 

I agree, they protect us, and I also love to discuss angels.

I think they can/do more than protect but probably won't discuss here.

Re: Angels: Ministering Spirits
 

I rarely specifically pray for the assistance of angels or address the subject of them with God but I did a few months back. I had been requesting that God would allow angels to patrol my home because I am very aware of the enemies intentions to destroy the amazing work of God that is happening in my family right now. What a process it has been! My 10 yr old son approached me the week I had made that prayer and asked me if ghosts were bald. A little stunned, I asked him what he was talking about. He then described a large, glowing white "man" that was bald walked out of the wall that his and my daughters room shared. I asked him what happened, he said the "man" turned and went through his closed bedroom door. My son said he just rolled over and fell asleep after this. I dont figure this being to be demonic, having plenty of experience with them, I know he would be quite frightened and wouldnt be able to just roll over and sleep. I have no reason to disbelieve my son and I figure this bald angel was just patrolling the bedrooms.

Re: Angels: Ministering Spirits
 

Awesome testimony! :)

Re: Angels: Ministering Spirits
 

Now you have my curiousity peaked. Please share Sis. Esther! I won't judge. Pleeeaaaase???

Re: Angels: Ministering Spirits
 

I, like the rest of you believe that they are for our Protection and they do minister to us
in many ways. I also believe that they of course Messengers of the Father. I speak to the angels every day. I have a habit of sorta giving them "marching orders". Not in an I command you way just in a thanks for being on the job, heres some things to watch out for way. I love endtimers story, I too have physically seen both Angels and demons and I love the fact that we can know that Abba has such a strong army on our side!

Re: Angels: Ministering Spirits
 

:thumbsup

In what other ways do they minister to us?

I believe that they encourage us (though we don't hear it with our natural ears). I believe they pray for us when we're spiritually and/or emotionally spent.

Here are some general questions I have for you or anyone else who might want to comment...

- Do you believe that it's possible for angels to talk to us today as in the book of Acts?

- Why do you think that encounters and communication with angels as seen in the book of Acts has been so rare?

Re: Angels: Ministering Spirits
 

I posted a thread about Angels a while back asking anybody if they've ever seen an angel. All the answers I got was about their honey, wife, girlfriend etc.

But yes, Endtimer, it seems as though the adolescents can see the supernatural more than adults.

One day I took my then 12-year-old son to the doctor. Afterwards, on the way to school and just out of the blue, he asked me if Angels are male or female. I told him that I always thought Angels were male. He then told me that he knew that they were male. I asked him how he knew. He responded saying "Because I saw one last night". I felt a shiver go down my spine when I asked him for details.

When the boys were small, I asked them if they wanted to share a room. They said yes so my husband and I moved out of our larger bedroom and gave them the bedroom to share. I put a slipper bench outside the room. My son said he woke up and saw a large, bright white man sitting on the bench looking at him. He got up and walked into the bedroom when he saw that my son was awake. I asked my son if he was afraid and he told me no. He said to me, "Momma, the Angel put me to sleep". I asked how. He said that the Angel came to his bedside and rubbed his legs and he fell back to sleep. I asked him if he felt him rubbing his legs and he said yes.

Like endtimer, I have no reason to disbelieve him. He was never given to tell any wild tales of any sort.

I take a lot of comfort in knowing that God is watching over my children as there have been various unexplainable instances that has happened in our home.

I don't worship the Angel, I worship the One who sent the Angel. :)

Re: Angels: Ministering Spirits
 

This is a wonderful testimony, AYR! I do agree with you that it seems children/teenagers seem to be more prone to seeing angels than adults. My daughter also has had an experience with an angel, and she tells the story exactly the same every time. She is not one to lie, or make up things at all. She would tell the truth if it caused her to get in trouble. She had an experience with an angel when she was about 9 years old. She had been sick with a stomach bug, and would seem to get better, then it would hit again. She just couldn't shake it. We had gone into town to run a few errands, and taken her with us. She had fallen asleep in the car, and we stopped at Pizza Hut to run in and get a pizza to go. When we came back out to the car, she was sitting up with her eyes huge and told us the story that while we were gone, an angel had come to her and told her she was to be healed. She said she sat up, the angel left immediately, and she immediately felt better. She ate pizza on the way home, and never was troubled with that stomach bug again. Whatever that "bug" was, it left. She tells the story to anyone who doesn't believe in angels, because she does. You will never convince her otherwise, and she was completely healed from this tormenting thing.

Whatever purpose angels have, in the Bible it seems they are ministering spirits. We are never to speak to angels in order to command them directly, but we are to ask the Lord for HIM to give them commands to help and protect us.

The Lord is their commander, not us, but He does give his angels charge over us. So in prayer, I believe it is biblical to ask the Lord to give his angels charge and care over us.

Re: Angels: Ministering Spirits
 

The sweetest baby dedication that I have ever witnessed, the minister asked God to send/charge an angel to that baby.

I'd never heard that before, but believe we should do it!

Re: Angels: Ministering Spirits
 

Even little kids know better than to speak to the Angels. My son did not speak to the Angel at all.

Re: Angels: Ministering Spirits
 

I don't agree with doing that. It appears from scripture it is something that just takes place. (Matthew 18:10)

With people hanging and putting angel statues all over their houses, I wouldn't encourage this type of thing.

Our focus should always be on Jesus Christ alone, knowing the things He commands and directs.

Re: Angels: Ministering Spirits
 

There were "angel" statues on the ark of the covenant.

http://3dtabernacle.com/images/ark6.jpg

Also, the tapestry of the tabernacle...

https://www.booksofthebible.com/stock/p3847d.jpg

Images of angels don't bother me much.

However, throughout the NT we see angels manifesting, speaking, and being spoken to. I think we are not "spiritually in tune" as the ancients were with the spiritual to experience angelic realities.

However, I agree with you, focus should be on Jesus Christ. He alone deserves worship. However, respecting the realities of angels and their current order is biblical.

Re: Angels: Ministering Spirits
 

Cherubim and Seraphim had wings. A bit different than angels who were seen as normal men. So, would there be a difference? It appears there is a difference.

Re: Angels: Ministering Spirits
 

I can appreciate that. It was new to me, but at the time, I thought how he prayed it (and he was UPC) was very sweet.

Re: Angels: Ministering Spirits
 

It's just me. When my roommate stole my crucifix necklace at 20 years old, my first thought was, "I don't have to go back there!" I realized later how much these idols have a hold of people. Hence, I have no angel figurines or crosses in my house.

Don't get me started on the prayer cloths. :heeheehee

Re: Angels: Ministering Spirits
 

I can understand that.

Re: Angels: Ministering Spirits
 

If angels have a "spiritual form" I am left with the impression that they are rather beastlike. Wings, feathers, talons, etc. However, seeing that they are highly intelligent and able to materialize... it may be that they choose a man "human form" when dealing with man. Imagine opening your eyes to something like this...

http://fc05.deviantart.net/fs29/f/20...a_st_clare.jpg

But, I picture their reality looking more like this (which might be just as frightening):

http://th04.deviantart.net/fs8/PRE/i...uraiX_Hiko.png

It would stand to reason that when dealing with man, they might "tone it down" a bit...

http://novelnovice.files.wordpress.c...1/seraphim.jpg

Re: Angels: Ministering Spirits
 

:heeheehee

I can see why you might feel that way.

Re: Angels: Ministering Spirits
 

Aquila,
I just want scripture. I don't care about drawings.

Re: Angels: Ministering Spirits
 

And the prayer cloths were NOT anointed with oil by the Apostles are ANYONE in the NT. That is just taking that way too far. The handkerchiefs were simply "sweat cloths" to wipe their brow and to place over the face of a dead person.

What is this anointing them with oil now? Sorry to hijack.

Re: Angels: Ministering Spirits
 

Here are a few verses to consider...

Isaiah 6:2
Seraphim were stationed above; each of them had six wings: with two they veiled their faces, with two they veiled their feet, and with two they hovered aloft.

Ezekiel 1:13
In among the living creatures something like burning coals of fire could be seen; they seemed like torches, moving to and fro among the living creatures. The fire gleamed, and from it came forth flashes of lightning.

Hebrews 1:7
And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire.

Re: Angels: Ministering Spirits
 

In Hebrew 1:7, I would take the imagery as devotion and zeal.

Re: Angels: Ministering Spirits
 

No, you're right. The cloths weren't anointed with oil. What I believe is that the spiritual "anointing" of Paul, through the abiding Holy Spirit, left residual power on the cloths. We see what I believe to be a hint of this principle when the woman with an issue of blood touches the hem of Christ's garment. In both cases "virtue", or power, transfered from the cloth (worn by the wearer) to the individual in need:

Acts 19:12
So that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them.

... and...

Mark 5:28-30
28 For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole.
29 And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague.
30 And Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that virtue had gone out of him, turned him about in the press, and said, Who touched my clothes?

Even the very bones of Elijah still had the power to raise the dead...

2 Kings 13:21
21 And it came to pass, as they were burying a man, that, behold, they spied a band of men; and they cast the man into the sepulchre of Elisha: and when the man was let down, and touched the bones of Elisha, he revived, and stood up on his feet.

The truth of the matter is that something... be it called "virtue", "power", "anointing", "residual energy"... was transfered from the body of God's anointed servants to material objects (bones, garment, cloths, aprons) and then said material affected those in desperate need of healing or deliverance.

When faced with these kinds of realities we have to allow the Holy Spirit to guide us in our practice. For example... if said power can be transfered to cloth... what about water? Wood? Or some other object? But now we're in the realm of the speculative that can only be proven through experience.

I digress.

With regards to prayer cloths... it's far more biblical for a preacher to simply pray over a cloth... no oil is necessary. Perhaps they only use the oil as a "symbol" of the Spirit's anointing being transfered to the cloth.

All of this is in actuality... VERY deep, mysterious, and profound stuff.

Re: Angels: Ministering Spirits
 

I believe it can be taken that way. But with a "spirit"... I can see that zeal actually blazing throughout it's being. There go my notion that angels look more "fiery" in their basic spiritual form.

Re: Angels: Ministering Spirits
 

Yea, I used to like to smoke pot too. Just messin' with ya. :heeheehee

Re: Angels: Ministering Spirits
 

LOL!

Re: Angels: Ministering Spirits
 

:heeheehee :highfive

Re: Angels: Ministering Spirits
 

I've thought I saw angels on various occasions. They were never in "humanoid" form. I saw them as what looked like "pillars of light" or bright "flashes of light". And it was nearly always out of the corner of my eye. The moment I looked, they'd be gone. So, when I saw them I'd not move my head and keep my eyes fixed. Several times I watched them move through the room through my peripheral... occasionally rising towards the ceiling. I was left breathless.

Re: Angels: Ministering Spirits
 

I have heard God's voice as if he were there in the room with me. He said, "I will be with you."

Re: Angels: Ministering Spirits
 

I would prefer to speak the word of faith - forget the cloths. The ushering in of the NT church by Jesus Christ and Paul was a phenomenal event. Although, I was in a service where an evangelist walked by as he was preaching, and I felt the presence of God with him. I could then see how the people would have reached out to touch Jesus or Paul.

Re: Angels: Ministering Spirits
 

That's awesome... I got chills.

Re: Angels: Ministering Spirits
 

I think that was the worst trial of my life. But He was there.

Re: Angels: Ministering Spirits
 

True. Cloths are by no means absolutely essential. However, perhaps there is someone who is in desperate need and they cannot be present with the anointed servant of God. The prayer cloth becomes a "spiritual bomb", a "spiritual weapon" if you will, through which God's power might be brought to them. Although... Jesus had authority to speak from a distance and something be done on behalf of the sick and dying. Perhaps some people don't have the faith. Perhaps some need a "touchstone" to focus upon to stir up faith.

But we can't deny it... for whatever reason the cloths were removed from Paul's person and taken to those in need of healing and deliverance. Even devils were cast out through their power. The very same Holy Spirit that indwelt Paul... indwells every believer. The only difference I can see is depth of faith, walk, prayer life, etc. But a biggie would be the "faith" to actually impliment such things into regular practice.

Christianity has "symbols"... that if their reality is reckoned through faith... these prove effectual. For example, the bread and the wine... the waters of baptism... anointed cloths... bibles... etc. In deliverance ministery some Spirit Filled believers have discovered that evil spirits are indeed greatly troubled by music, prayer, prayer cloths, blessed oil, blessed water, blessed incense, fasting, blessed bread & wine. Are these things necessary??? Absolutely not (exceptins being prayer & fasting in some circumstances). Since the advent of Christ, all that has been necessary is a stern adjuration (Grk. exorkismos/exorcism) through the authority of Christ's name. Most of these things are throw backs to the OT temple and ancient rituals conducted by the priests of Israel. Today... we have the anointing of God Himself residing in us.

Re: Angels: Ministering Spirits
 

I wouldn't encourage someone that they need to touch something to have faith. If I believed that, I would have a statute of the Virgin Mary in my garden.

When the servant came to Jesus, his faith made his daughter whole. Jesus didn't even need to go to the man's house. I would preach on that point more.

I can see this powerful anointing exuding from Paul, making people want to touch him. And I can see them bringing that handkerchief home to touch the sick and infirm, because of their experience and faith.

However, taking the story out of context by applying oil, I have a problem with that. But, I think we agree on that point.

Re: Angels: Ministering Spirits
 

You're right. They didn't apply oil to the cloths.

Here's a question...

Why would they even think to take the aprons or handkerchiefs home to touch the sick, infirm, and demon possessed?

Again, here's the verse...

Acts 19:11-12
11 And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul:
12 So that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them.

While we might be uncomfortable with the possibility... it's possible that the ancients had a far deeper understanding of the power behind a thing that is "blessed". To the ancient mind, our rationalist approach to reason would be sterile and void of life. Jesus and the Apostles spoke to creation and sickness as though it were living... "Peace be still!", for example. Was the storm alive? Nope. But the power to command the elements as though it were... in fact... to speak to all of nature itself through the sheer authority of will was commonly understood. The notion that some kind of anointing or residual power might rest on an object was common place in their mindset. And they aren't rebuked for it.

The depths of spiritual understandings that we've yet to experience, or that we deny through religious rationalism, were quite common place to them.

Re: Angels: Ministering Spirits
 

With regards to prayer cloths I've heard testimonies about how a mother hid a prayer cloth in a son or daughter's pillow and God delivered them from alcohol and/or drug abuse.

There is something to it.

Re: Angels: Ministering Spirits
 

That is certainly something to consider. I can see that. I don't think the area that Jesus and the Apostles ministered were large enough for the story of the woman with the issue of blood be lost. Think about the huge crowd around and he stops to ask, "Who touched me?" And then she comes forth to share her story.

Along with what you state, which I won't reject, perhaps they knew this story and realized they could also touch Paul. And like any other story, ONE person shares what happened, and it goes and grows from there.

Re: Angels: Ministering Spirits
 

And this brings me back to the actual subject of the thread... we've drifted from being as spiritual as I think believers used to be. Today... I'm not so sure that we are open enough or have the faith to actually see or hear from a holy angel should it be sent to us.

Re: Angels: Ministering Spirits
 

True. In addition... we do have extra biblical literature that depicts quite a different mindset with relation to spiritual things than what we have today.